Japanese word

悲惨

Pronunciation

Romajihisan

Meaning

  • na-adjectivemiserable

Example

彼の生活は悲惨です。kare no sei katsu wa hi san de su

His life is miserable.

Illustration for 悲惨 (miserable)

More examples

試験の結果は悲惨でした。shi ken no kek ka wa hi san de shi ta

The exam results were disastrous.

Core concept

Describes a condition marked by extreme suffering, hardship, or damage that leaves it far worse than ordinary difficulty.

Common phrases

  • 悲惨な状況hi san na jō kyō

    a miserable situation

  • 悲惨な結果hi san na kek ka

    a disastrous result

  • 悲惨な生活hi san na sei katsu

    a miserable life

Similar words

惨めmijime: Describes a state of deep unhappiness, humiliation, or poverty.
過酷kakoku: Describes treatment or conditions that are exceptionally harsh.
無残muzan: Describes a condition made pitiful by serious damage or loss.

Definition in Japanese

非常に苦しく、見るに堪えないほどひどい状態にあるさま。hi jō ni kuru shi ku mi ru ni ta e na i ho do hi do i jō tai ni a ru sa ma

Word origin

As a Sino-Japanese compound, 悲惨 (hisan) combines 悲 (hi, "sorrow") and 惨 (san, "misery"), expressing a state of deep suffering.

Usage tips

  • In English, miserable can describe a person's mood, while 悲惨 (hisan) more often describes an extremely bad situation, such as 生活 (seikatsu) or 状況 (jōkyō).

Other meanings

  • disastrousna-adjective
  • tragicna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 悲惨さhisansamiserynoun

Word lists with this word